Christmas Holiday Fire Safety Tips

The most joyous of times can also be deadly. Take the Christmas season. Christmas trees are involved in approximately 400 fires annually, according to the National Fire Protection Association, typically resulting in more than a dozen deaths, dozens of injuries and more than $10 million in property loss and damage. Short-circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause.

The State Fire Marshal's Office offers these safety tips for choosing and preparing Christmas lights for decoration that will minimize the risk of fire and injuries.